Bryan "Jop Jop" Joplin, a 33-year-old mixed martial arts fighter from La Habra, was found dead Thursday night about 11:15 after a highway accident midway between Palm Springs and the Colorado River, said Sgt. Steven Ahrens of the California Highway Patrol.

Joplin was killed driving a pickup heading east toward the river when he was in a crash with another eastbound Dodge pickup towing a boat and a westbound Jeep Cherokee, Ahrens said. He said emergency workers found Joplin dead at the scene of the accident.

The vehicles were traveling state Route 62, about 32 miles west of Vidal Junction.

The driver of the Jeep Cherokee, Will Kammerdiene, 28, of Parker, Ariz., was taken to an Arizona hospital with moderate injuries. The passenger and driver of the pickup were unhurt, Ahrens said.

The CHP continues to investigate the accident. Ahrens said the area is a no-passing zone for eastbound traffic, but said it is still unclear whether any passing was attempted.

Joplin was a Dana Hills High School graduate of the class of 1994, according to his MySpace page.

"The fun and good times consist of the river, the desert, the beach, and pushing the limits looking for the biggest thrill/rush I can get!" his MySpace page reads. "I live life to the fullest with no regrets!"

The MMA Web site sherdog.com records Joplin winning five professional fights between 2004 and 2007, and losing his sixth and final recorded match in November 2007.